School Days
at the PA Renaissance Faire

Bring your group and join the celebration!

Dates & Tickets

44th Season of the
PA Renaissance Faire

Enjoy all of the colorfully costumed characters!

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Educational Programs at Historic Mount Hope

Experience the educational difference of Student & Youth Programs at Mount Hope! For over 20 years, Mount Hope Estate and the Pennsylvania Renaissance Faire have provided enriching, interactive, and fulfilling Student Programs for hundreds of thousands of students in the Northeast. Whether at School Days at the Pennsylvania Renaissance Faire or through our Holidays at Mount Hope Theater in the Mansion program, our main goal is to help with the growth and learning of the youth of today, the future of our tomorrow. We invite you to peruse our Student Programs and learn why getting your students involved will help invigorate, energize and promote their love for education, history, the earth, science and more!

School Days at the Faire

Join us for School Days at the Faire, where students journey back to a 16th century English country faire and become immersed in the culture of our 35-acre Elizabethan village. During their visit students gain knowledge of medieval armor from knights of old, witness the sport of falconry, cheer their champion at the Tournament Jousts, encounter nobles and peasants from the pages of history books while exploring the Shire of Mount Hope. Whether participating in period song or dance, or accepting a cameo role with a wandering troupe of players, students express their creativity both on stage and throughout their encounters with the villagers, all within the confines of a dramatic Tudor village in a safe, secure learning environment. Merchants and craftsmen demonstrate their ancient crafts including a blacksmith, glassblower, beekeeper, clothier, leather smith, bowyer, potter, herbalist, and many more. Students also have the chance to participate in competitions and participatory events designed to provide hands‐on learning in a fun, yet competitive setting.



Dates & Times

The 2024 School Days at the Pennsylvania Renaissance Faire take place from 9:00AM-3:00PM and are separated by grade levels on the following days:
Tuesday, October 1: Junior & Senior High
Wednesday, October 2: Elementary & Junior High

Admission Information

Admission is $18 per person, with 1 complimentary chaperone admitted for every 8 paid students. The minimum group size to attend is 10 or more youths. Home Schools are welcome provided your group meets the minimum group size. Final attendance count and payment is not due until time of arrival. Checks, cash, and credit cards are all acceptable forms of payment. More information on payment options can be found in the School Days Handbook

Day-Of Check-In

Upon arrival at the Faire, your bus will be stopped at the registration area. The registered teacher will be asked to get off the bus and check in. ALL GROUPS must check in at this table, even if prepaid. Please see the handbook for more information about arrival.

Lunch Options

  • Many lunch options are available for individual purchase on the Shire.
  • Groups are welcome to pack and bring their own lunches. Lunch storage will be available near the pirate ship. Groups should pack their lunches in large, well-marked containers.
  • PRF is not responsible for any lost items left in the lunch storage area.
  • Lunches can be enjoyed in one of our many picnic areas or eaten from the audience while enjoying a show.

Safety Initiative

Consistent with the most recent guidance from the PA Department of Health and the Centers for Disease Control, Mount Hope is pleased to update our safety initiatives designed to keep everyone safe - Download Guest COVID Policies (August 1, 2021). As guidance and requirements from various government agencies continue to evolve, so too, will we. Follow us on Facebook @PaRenFaire or join the Royal Email List for news and updates.

Educational Programs
Educational Programs
Educational Programs
Educational Programs

RESERVATIONS CURRENTLY UNAVAILABLE

2024 School Days Reservations are now closed. Please check back for 2025 information. Please email Bri.Miller@PaRenFaire.com with additional questions or concerns.

Events & Competitions

In addition to all the shows and events throughout the day during School Days, your groups can also become involved with or take part in the following competitions and participatory activities! Specific details, entry instructions, locations and times for each competition are located on the Handbook page.

Participation is not mandatory, but groups must pre-register to participate. Most competitions and participatory activities require the Student Participate Form to be filled out prior to the event. Competition results and awards will be available at the Informistress Booth approximately one hour after the conclusion of the competition with the exception of the Heraldry and Poster Competition (these awards will be place on the entries while they are displayed).

Herladry Madrigal

Day-Of Competitions

Renaissance Music Competition

Theater Competition

Poster Competition

Heraldry Competition

Participatory Activities

Lord and Lady Ceremony

A Royal Interview

Post-Visit Competitions

Photo Journalism Contest

Creative Writing Contest

Display Advertising Design Contest

Poster Heraldry

Frequently Asked Questions

Over the years, educators preparing for school trips to the Pennsylvania Renaissance Faire have asked many questions. We hope to answer some of the most frequently asked and, hopefully, assist everyone in the preperations for School Days. If you have any other questions that have not been answered below, please contact our business offices at 717-665-7021, Monday through Friday, 9AM-4PM or visit our formal comment, question and feedback page to submit an inquiry.

The event is located on the grounds of Mount Hope Estate, home of the PA Renaissance Faire. The street address is 2775 Lebanon Rd. Manheim, PA 17545.
School Days at the Faire runs from 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM. Plan to come early and stay the entire day. The events on the Revels Schedule begin with Queen’s Court and end with the Finale In Song, so it is beneficial to spend the entire day at the Faire and experience as much as possible. Most groups arrive between 8:30am and 9:00am. The complete Revels Schedule will be available prior to your trip.
The School Days are geared toward children in grades 3-12. Please check the General Information page for more details on which days are ear-marked for Elementary, Junior High or High School students. There are a wide variety of shows that are portrayed on the grounds and each group leader can cater their schedule for the day to the age of children in their group. If group leaders must bring children under that age range, please note that everyone*, regardless of age, will be required to pay the $18 admission fee. This includes all children, even toddlers.

*With the exception of complimentary chaperones. The Faire allows one complimentary chaperone for every 8 students.
As quickly as you and your students can choose a date. Reservations are accepted for all of our events on a first-come-first-served basis. You can register with your best estimate of attendees and update your count closer to arrival. Reservations are available through our online Reservation Form.
The cost of School Days is $18 per person for both students and chaperones. One complimentary chaperone will be admitted for every eight students, but additional chaperones are permitted and will be charged the student rate of $18. We request that children younger than Grade 3 do not attend School Days, as the days are geared to the age group attending and it is difficult for adults to chaperone the students while tending to toddlers and infants. If it is absolutely necessary that younger children attend the School Day, they will be charged the student rate regardless of age. If you are travelling by bus, a special bus driver admission wristband will be provided free of charge.
An invoice will be emailed to you with a confirmation with 48 business hours of submitting the online Reservation Form. More information on payment options can be found in the Handbook.
When your group arrives at the Faire, the registered educator will be directed to the Registration Table where he/she will make their payment and receive Admission Wristbands for their group. The Admission Wristbands are tickets and no one will be admitted inside the Faire grounds without wearing a Faire provided wristband for the safety of everyone attending. We do offer a pre-payment option for groups who can pay in full no later than two weeks prior to their visit. Pre-paid groups will receive their Admission Wristbands in the mail prior to their visit. Details regarding the pre-payment option are available in the Handbook, which will be posted to the website and emailed to the registering teacher over the summer.
Yes, provided your group meets the minimum group size of 10 or more students. Because home school groups often contain a variety of ages of students, we suggest that you choose a School Day to best accommodate the majority of the students' ages. The chaperone policies do apply and additional chaperones will be charged the student rate. We request that students younger than Grade 3 do not attend School Days, as the days are geared to the age group attending and it is difficult for adults to chaperone the students while tending to toddlers and infants. If it is absolutely necessary that younger children attend the School Day, they will be charged the student rate regardless of age.
Two mobile phone numbers will be required of either the Registered Chaperone, or another adult chaperone that we will use as a contact in case of emergency, behavioral or other issue. These numbers should be provided by the Emergency Contact Form.
A Revels Schedule will be sent out prior to the School Days dates—We suggest educators preview this schedule and loosely plan the day for their students leaving some “free time” for village exploration, lunch, souvenirs, etc. Planning in advance will alleviate students' wandering and will focus them on the available activities at the Faire.
Yes. We have a fully staffed First Aid station with licensed EMT personnel available for any emergency. The closest hospital is located six miles north of the Faire in Lebanon and is called the Good Samaritan Hospital.
Yes. Although we have many delectable Royal Kitchens to choose from throughout the Shire, we allow students to pack their lunches. Schools can store their lunches in large boxes or bags in the Lunch Storage Area near the Pirate Ship. Lunches should be clearly labeled with your school’s name and PRF is not responsible for any lost items.
The Shire holds hundreds of merchants, artisans and food vendors. These shops are independently owned businesses operated by the individual artisans and food merchants. If students wish to purchase crafts, food or souvenirs, play games or ride rides, they should bring spending money. Because the Faire provides an extensive Revels Schedule filled with performances and packed lunches are permitted on School Days, money is not a necessity, as there is plenty to see and do without additional cost. The decision to bring spending money and the amount is solely up to the individual student.
The online study guide/handbook and all required information can be found on the Handbook Page. More information will be sent to the email address provided when registering your group.

Contact Mount Hope

Bri Miller, Educational Director
717-879-4000 • Bri.Miller@PaRenFaire.com